Native American Traditional Healing

A note from TheBody.com: Since this article was written, the HIV pandemic has changed, as has our understanding of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!

"Well and Good" is a series of articles that will
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Complimentary Therapies are not intended to
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Sacred Indian Healing Herbs

By Alan "Bear" Morsette

I begin this writing with the
greatest of love and respect to all of the Elders,
Herbal People, and Herbal Healers. I will attempt to do
a basic introduction and brief explanation of the
primary intention and usage of only three of the sacred
herbs in Indian Society and Ceremonies.

Sweet Grass

Sweet Grass has the most sacred usage's of all the
purification herbs. It is a seasonal plant and grows
only in certain places. Sweet grass is used primarily
for the blessing of one's self. It is placed in a shell
or a bowl and burned, similar to incense. The smoke
gives forth a very pleasant smell. When people engage in
the ceremony of blessing ones self, he/she holds the
bowl of burning herb and slowly moves it around in a
continuous circle surrounding the body from head to foot
with swirling smoke. Sweet Grass is often used for
purification during sweat lodge ceremonies. It is used
for smudging "(blessing-down)" our homes, protecting
them from evil spirits. It is also used to purify all of
our sacred prayer instruments. This herb is carried with
us when we travel, attached to our sacred war-ponies
and/or in our vehicles.

Medicinally, it is used as a portion of a combination of other herbs in a special
formulated "medicine tea" which flushes the impurities
out of the body. Sweet grass is very calming and
relaxing to the user who is taught to use it in a
traditional and respectful manner. The sacred herb,
sweet grass, is used in all phases of healing by the
doctoring healer. Sweet grass must be used only by those
who have a thorough understanding of its sacred value to
Native American traditional ways.

Sage

Sage has a variety of uses. When burned, it has a pungent odor.
Sage is used principally for smudging but can also be
used in the blessing down of our homes and vehicles. It
is commonly used in medicine tea to flush ones system of
all impurities. Along with tobacco and other substances,
sage is part of a mixture used in the sacred smoking of
the pipe. There are may varieties of sage. However, in
many places, the natural supply of sage is dwindling.
This is due, in part, to people harvesting sage in order
to sell it to the general public. In recent years, there
seems to be an increase in the fascination with the use
of sage burning. One must know it's proper use in order
for it to be affective.

In sweat lodge ceremonies, sage is used to sit on and represents part of the plant
world. It is also burned in smudge pots. The herb is
widely used in many of our sacred ceremonies including
but not limited to lodges, drum circles, healing and
doctoring. Only those who are well-grounded in Native
American traditional values should attempt to use this
herb in a sacred way.

Cedar & Juniper

There are several different types of these sacred herbs. They are found
all over this great turtle land. People have to be very
careful in the usage of cedar and juniper and how they
present themselves with it. To some tribes, Cedar is
considered the "tree of life" because it withstands the
four elements year round no matter how harsh the seasons
are. These herbs are used extensively in all of our
sacred ceremonies, healing, and doctoring methods. It
makes an excellent tea for the purpose of flushing out
the system.

Important

Message to readers: This is just a
basic summary of some sacred herbs and their usage in
all phases our tribal traditions. Their significance,
sacredness, and precise usage's are much more complex.
The effectiveness of their healing qualities depends on
highly specialized techniques that are handed down from
generation to generation. A person must go through the
proper steps and many years of training before
attempting to use the sacred herbs for any smudging or
medicinal purposes. (For example, one would not practice
acupuncture on oneself without consulting an
acupuncturist). Medicinally, herbal healers can only
administer these herbs.

If you are considering exploring
the healing powers of these herbs and ceremonies, we
urge you to consult an Indian Healer. Call American
Indian Health and Services in Santa Barbara at
805.681.7356.or your local Urban Indian Organization to
find out more.

The most important thing to remember is
that if you do not know the proper use and respect for
these sacred herbs and their medical usage DO NOT
pretend that you know. DO NOT attempt to doctor yourself
or give them to anybody for any reason. These sacred
herbs, just like the mother earth, are not for sale at
any price AHO!

A note from TheBody.com: Since this article was written, the HIV pandemic has changed, as has our understanding of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!

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